Sympistis buto Troubridge, 2008

Troubridge, J. T., 2008, A generic realignment of the Oncocnemidini sensu Hodges (1983) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Oncocnemidinae), with description of a new genus and 50 new species, Zootaxa 1903 (1), pp. 1-95 : 51-52

Sympistis buto Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. F-20, O-5, T-9)

Diagnosis. Sympistis buto is closely related to and resembles S. extremis . Sympistis extremis occurs in midelevation forests from British Columbia to California. Sympistis buto flies with S. extremis in the Sierra Nevada, California. In the Sierra Nevada, S. extremis (Fig. F-21) is much darker than S. buto (Fig. F-20). The subterminal area of the dorsal forewing of S. extremis is black without a distinct light gray area between the subterminal and terminal lines in California and Oregon (occasionally gray in Washington and British Columbia) and the median line is always well developed, often bleeding into the antemedial line. The forewing of S. buto is much paler with the area between the subterminal and terminal lines light gray and the median line only faintly visible, darkest as a black dot at the costa. Internally the species are similar.

Description. Antennae filiform, head off-white with distinct black band across vertex, prothoracic collar, thorax and abdomen light grayish brown. Small, vestigial pockets present on male abdomen but levers and hair pencils absent. Forewing length 16-17 mm. Dorsal forewing light grayish brown with scattered dark gray scales, postmedial line bordered distally with light gray line, area between jagged subterminal line and this light gray line dark gray; subterminal area with scattered white scales. Orbicular spot not well defined, offwhite; reniform spot white without distinct margin; antemedial, postmedial, and basal lines black; median line very faint, present as scattered dark gray scales running from antemedial line to costa where a black dot is present; subterminal line present only as demarcation between postmedian dark gray scales are separated from subterminal white scales; terminal line present as a series of black chevrons between veins; fringe gray with off-white basal line, checkered with darker gray between veins. Dorsal hindwing pale gray in females, dirty white in males, with broad grayish brown terminal shade; veins highlighted with gray scales; fringe white with cream colored basal line and gray median line. Male genitalia. (Fig. O-5) Valve shaped like prow of canoe, with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper bends posteriorly and narrows to form terminal spine. Vesica arcs downward 180° with dorsal, subbasal patch of spine-like cornuti; a narrow ribbon of cornuti lies flat against left side of posterior ½ of vesica; a broad ribbon of erect cornuti extends dorsally along middle ½ of vesica; a bundle of two long cornuti above a single stout cornutus extend from apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. T-9) Ovipositor lobes rounded, with fine setae and collar of long setae at the base; ductus bursae with triangular sclerotized ventral plate on posterior a, gradually widens towards appendix bursae, which arises from right side of ductus bursae; appendix bursae shaped like a person’s lower leg and foot with slipper, narrowing to ductus seminalis at “toe”; corpus bursae with two elongate signa, arises from left side of ductus bursae; corpus bursae about same size as appendix bursae, with central bulge on left bending to right with rounded anterior apex.

Type material. Holotype female: California, Tioga Pass, 8500-10000’, Mono Co., 31 vii – 1 viii 1995, Troubridge and Crabo , in the CNC . Paratypes: 2♂. California: Plumas Co., Happy Valley , 39° 52' N, 120° 37' W, 5600’, 28 viii 2000, J. Troubridge , 1♂. Nevada: Washoe Co., Mt. Rose , 39° 19' N, 119° 54' W, 8600’, 29 viii 2000, J. Troubridge , 1♂.

Etymology. From Egyptian Mythology, Buto is the snake-goddess who was protector of the Egyptian king. Together with the vulture-goddess Nekhbet, she was placed as an uraeus on the crown of the king. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. Sympistis buto has been collected only in the Sierra Nevada of western Nevada and eastern California.